Freddie had surgery today to remove a hair follicle cyst near his hip. When we went to pick him up at the vet, he had chewed through his sutures. The sutures were redone and we are now monitoring him to keep him from pulling out the sutures again. I read that Kleenmama was able to make a stapled collar. We would appreciate any help with making a collar. We're not sure what else to do besides watching him 24/7. He is not on any pain medication or antibiotics. Thank you.

I can't find the link, but I think somebody posted here a while ago about some sort of "bodysuit" they had made from a sock for their newly operated piggy. I am not sure if it will work, but if the collar doesn't do the trick it might be worth trying.

Watch him carefully for signs of pain. Even a relatively minor surgery like this is still surgery, and he may hurt. Weigh him at least twice a day, at roughly the same times each day, to make sure he doesn't lose weight.

If he appears to be in pain and/or loses weight, call the vet for some pain medication. Metacam is a good choice. If they tell you he won't eat with a pain med, they're wrong. Metacam is an NSAID and does *not* make them drowsy or less likely to eat, any more than an Advil would do the same to you.

Collars aren't the best choice for cavies (although I like the idea of the interface material, which is softer and bendable). They can't retrieve their cecotropes; they'll have difficulty getting into or out of a hide box or pigloo; they'll have difficulty running into a pile of hay to eat it and they'll have difficulty with a water bottle. Some flat-out freak and go wild, possibly injuring their limbs and/or backs, until it's off.

Staples sometimes make a less chew-prone closure. The cut-off sock sounds like the best choice to me.

When Millie had her sutures I asked Dr. R about collars and he said he doesn't like to use them on pigs because pigs have no necks. Then there is them not being able to reach their food and the pigaloo entrance problems. He suggested bandaging using vet wrap (not too tight of course). It sticks to itself so is hard for them to chew off.